Battle for podium position between Lorient and Lyon

Lyon’s former Lorient player, Arnold Mvuemba

Ligue 1’s third-placed Olympique Lyonnais head to Lorient – lying just a point behind the Gones – on Sunday.

After an excellent start to the season, the Lyonnais fell 0-2 in Gerland against Bordeaux last weekend, before just managing a win 4-3 against minnows Kiryat Shmona on Thursday evening in the Europa League.

OL are therefore in dire need of a win against their direct challenger, who could kick them out of their podium position in the case of a win for the hosts.

The match will see a reunion between Arnold Mvuemba and his former club, whose qualities he knows well and is very wary of.

“Lorient are well-known in France and we know what they are capable of. Their current ranking reflects their qualities. We know it is going to be a difficult match on the artificial turf. They manage to cause problems for many big teams,” admitted the Lyon midfielder.

FC Lorient are in fact one of the three only teams to remain unbeaten in the Ligue 1 this season, alongside Bordeaux and Paris Saint-Germain.

And fortified by their excellent start to the Championship, the Merlus are approaching this visit by the Lyonnais with confidence.

“For Lorient, to host Lyon under these conditions is a very positive thing. We want to continue on our good run at the Moustoir. Lyon is a formidable opponent. We have the quality to trouble them. So it is up to us to show it on the field on Sunday afternoon,” confided right back Maxime Baca.

In Lyon’s last eight trips to Lorient, the Gones have won five times, with one draw and two defeats.

Kick-off for the second highlight of the eighth week of the Ligue 1, along with the Clasico taking place at the Stade Vélodrome, will be on Sunday 7 October at 17h00 CAT.